WILLIAM MILLER | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 28, 1868

WILLIAM MILLER.

HIS PUBLIC LABORS.

(Continued.)

He arrived in Boston on the 7th of December, and from the 8th to the 10th lectured in Chardon-street chapel,—his first course of lectures in that city.

On the 12th of December, Mr. Miller writes from Boston to his son: “I am now in this place lecturing, twice a day, to large audiences. Many, very many, go away unable to gain admittance. Many, I am informed, are under serious convictions. I hope God will work in this city.”

At this time he stopped at the house of Elder Himes, who had much conversation with him respecting his views, his plans for the future, and his responsibilities. Elder H. became impressed with the correctness of Mr. M’s views respecting the nearness and nature of Christ’s coming; but was not fully satisfied respecting the time. He was, however, sufficiently convinced that Mr. Miller was communicating important truths, to feel a great interest in their promulgation.

“When Mr. Miller had closed his lectures,” says Elder H., “I found myself in a new position. I could not believe nor preach as I had done. Light on this subject was blazing on my conscience day and night. A long conversation with Mr. Miller then took place, on our duties and responsibilities. I said to Bro. Miller, ‘Do you really believe this doctrine?’

“He replied, ‘Certainly I do, or I would not preach it.’”

“‘What are you doing to spread or diffuse it through the world?’

“‘I have done, and am still doing, all I can.’

“‘Well, the whole thing is kept in a corner yet. There is but little knowledge on the subject, after all you have done. If Christ is to come in a few years, as you believe, no time should be lost in giving the church and world warning, in thunder-tones, to arouse them to prepare.’

“‘I know it, I know it, Bro. Himes,’ said he; ‘but what can an old farmer do? I was never used to public speaking; I stand quite alone; and, though I have labored much, and seen many converted to God and the truth, yet no one, as yet, seems to enter into the object and spirit of my mission, so as to render me much aid. They like to have me preach, and build up their churches; and there it ends, with most of the ministers, as yet. I have been looking for help,—I want help.’”

“It was at this time that I laid myself, family, society, reputation, all, upon the altar of God, to help him, to the extent of my power, to the end. I then inquired of him what parts of the country he had visited, and whether he had visited any of our principal cities.

“He informed me of his labors,”—as given in the foregoing pages.

“‘But why,’ I said, ‘have you not been into the large cities?’

“‘He replied that his rule was to visit those places where invited, and that he had not been invited into any of the large cities.

“‘Well,’ said I, ‘will you go with me where doors are opened?’

“‘Yes, I am ready to go anywhere, and labor to the extent of my ability to the end.’

“‘I then told him he might prepare for the campaign; for doors should be opened in every city in the Union, and the warning should go to the ends of the earth! Here I began to ‘help’ Father Miller.’”

With this speech commenced an entire new era in the spread of the doctrine of the Advent. B. B. Mussey, Esq., a distinguished Boston publisher, undertook the publication of a revised edition, of five thousand copies, of Mr. Miller’s Lectures, on condition that Mr. Miller would secure the copyright. Mr. M. did so, which subjected himself to some blame, where the reason for the act was not known. Mr. M. gave to Mr. Mussey the entire profits of the edition for two hundred copies of the work, which Mr. Mussey gave him.

On the 19th of November, he commenced a course of lectures in New Haven, Ct., in the M. E. Church, Rev. Mr. Law pastor. On Sunday, the 20th, although the house was large, it was crowded; and in the evening many were unable to gain admittance. He continued there till the 26th, the interest continuing during the entire course. “The Fountain,” a temperance paper published in that city, gave the following account of the meeting:

“Mr. William Miller, the celebrated writer and lecturer on the Second Advent of our Saviour, and the speedy destruction of the world, has recently visited our city, and delivered a course of lectures to an immense concourse of eager listeners in the First Methodist Church. It is estimated that not less than three thousand persons were in attendance at the church, on each evening, for a week; and if the almost breathless silence which reigned throughout the immense throng for two or three hours at a time is any evidence of interest in the subject of the lectures, it cannot be said that our community are devoid of feeling on this momentous question.

“Mr. Miller was accompanied and assisted by Rev. J. V. Himes, who is by no means an inefficient coadjutor in this great and important work. We did not attend the whole course, the last three lectures being all we had an opportunity of hearing. We are utterly disappointed. So many extravagant things had been said of the ‘fanatics’ in the public prints, and such distorted statements published in reference to their articles of faith, that we were prepared to witness disgusting and perhaps blasphemous exhibitions of ‘Millerism,’ as the doctrine of the second advent is called.

“In justice to Mr. Miller we are constrained to say, that he is one of the most interesting lecturers we have any recollection of ever having heard. We have not the least doubt that he is fully convinced of the truth of the doctrine he labors so diligently to inculcate, and he certainly evinces great candor and fairness in his manner of proving his points. And he proves them, too, to the satisfaction of every hearer;—that is, allowing his premises to be correct, there is no getting away from his conclusions.

“There was quite a number of believers in attendance from other places, and a happier company we have never seen. We have no means of ascertaining the precise effect of these meetings on this community, but we know that many minds have been induced to contemplate the Scripture prophecies in a new light, and not a few are studying the Bible with unwonted interest. For our own part, this new view of the world’s destiny is so completely at variance with previous habits of thought, and anticipation, that we are not prepared to give it entire credence, though we should not dare hazard an attempt to disprove it.

“The best part of the story is, that a powerful revival has followed the labors of Messrs. Miller and company. We learn that over fifty persons presented themselves for prayers at the altar of the Methodist church on Sunday evening. On Monday evening the number was about eighty.”

In the month of May following, Rev. A. A. Stevens (Orthodox Cong.), then a member of Yale College, in a letter to the “Midnight Cry,” stated that “the powerful and glorious revival, which then commenced, continued for some two months, with almost unabated interest.”